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Looking Ahead — Centennial High School graduate, Britney Armstrong (third from
right), celebrates with her fellow classmates after officially graduating from the Compton
Unified School District (CUSD), Thursday, June 11. Centennial’s graduation ceremony
was part of a day-long event, held at the Home Depot Center, 18400 Avalon Blvd.,
Carson, which hosted commencement exercises for all three CUSD comprehensive high
schools and the district’s alternative schools. Full story...
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Making a Grand Entrance — Dominguez High School valedictorian and Gates
Millennium scholar Miryam Padilla (center) enters the Home Depot Center, 18400
Avalon Blvd., Carson, along with her fellow graduates, Thursday, June 11, as part of her
school’s graduation ceremony. Padilla is one of 1,000 graduates nationwide who
received the prestigious Gates Millennium Scholarship. Each Gates scholarship pays for
a student’s entire undergraduate and graduate education, regardless of their chosen school
and however many degrees he or she wishes to attain. This fall, Padilla will attend the
University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) where she will study medicine. Full story...
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Rite of Passage — Centennial High School’s salutorian and John Gogian Family
Foundation scholar, Michael Cervantes, receives his diploma from Principal
Bankston-Cullen, Thursday, June 11, during the Compton Unified School District
(CUSD) school’s graduation ceremony. Cervantes, whose family was forced
from their Compton apartment in April, said he spent the last two months riding
Angeles Metro bus from his new home in Watts to school. “Today was my
the bus and I thought to myself that it was like a rite of passage,” he said. Full story...
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Getting a Head Start — Compton High School graduate, Christopher Alcendor, joins his
fellow classmates as they turn their tassels, Thursday, June 11, at Compton Unified
School District’s (CUSD) high school graduation ceremonies. The day-long event, held
at the Home Depot Center, 18400 Avalon Blvd., Carson, hosted commencement
ceremonies for all three CUSD comprehensive high schools and the district’s alternative
schools. “I hope to have my associate degree in liberal arts by next year,” said Alcendor,
who gained enough high school and college units to begin his junior year at California
State University, Los Angeles this fall.
Full story...
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Big Smile for a Big Day — “I’m so happy right now,” said Compton High School’s
valedictorian, Dianna Soto, Thursday, June 11, at Compton Unified School District’s
graduation ceremonies. The day-long event, held at the Home Depot Center, 18400
Avalon Blvd., Carson, hosted commencement exercises for all three CUSD
comprehensive high schools and the district’s alternative schools. Full story...
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“I Feel Blessed” — Said Dominguez High School graduate, Bilal Amir Dortch (right),
after officially graduating, Thursday, June 11. He accepted his diploma from Donald
Evans (left), associate superintendent, middle schools, Compton Unified School District
(CUSD), during Dominguez High’s commencement exercise at the Home Depot Center,
18400 Avalon Blvd., Carson. Dortch, who will attend the University of California, Irvine
this fall, overcame the dual challenges of an unstable family life and improving his
academic performance to become a college-bound student. Full story...
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The Last Ingredient— Encouraged by Todd Johnson, general manager, Lawry’s The
Prime Rib, (left), Carver Elementary School fifth-grader Malcolm Boles (right), adds the
finishing touch to the famous Original Spinning Bowl Salad, in Beverly Hills, Thursday,
May 21, as Ana Vargas, Carver student (center), looks on. Full story...
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A Moment of Pride — More than 650 college-bound graduating seniors and their
families gathered, Thursday, May 28, at Compton Unified School District’s (CUSD)
Ninth Annual Seniors Banquet. The event, held at the Centre at Sycamore Plaza, 5000
Clark Ave., Lakewood, from 6 p.m. to 10 p.m., treated the district’s future university
students and their families to an evening honoring their achievements. Full story...
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The Grass is Greener at McNair — Compton Unified School District’s (CUSD) McNair
Elementary School students enjoy their school’s new grass ball park and playing field,
1450 W. El Segundo Blvd., Thursday, May 21, following its ribbon-cutting ceremony.
Over 700 attendees, including students, school staff, administrators and community
members, celebrated the opening of the new field. Full story...
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Exploring Options — Counselor and disability specialist Klaudia Macias, M.S., (center),
Los Angeles Trade-Technical College, Disabled Students Services, informs students
about the many courses and programs available at her college, Thursday, May 28, at the
Third Annual Transition Partnership Program Exit Workshop. The event, held at the
Compton CareerLink WorkSource Center, 700 N. Bullis Rd., and sponsored by the Compton
Unified School District (CUSD) and the California Department of Rehabilitation,
provided juniors and graduating seniors from CUSD’s Special Education program with
one-on-one career and vocational counseling. Full story...
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On The Catwalk— Students from Tibby Elementary School “strut their stuff,” during the
After School Enrichment Science (ASES) program end-of-the-year talent show,
“Dazzle,” Thursday, May 21. More than 120 parents, teachers, staff and community
members gathered in the Compton Unified School District (CUSD) elementary school’s
cafeteria, 1400 W. Poplar St., from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m., to support the student performers.
The event, sponsored by Tibby Elementary’s After School Enrichment Science (ASES)
program, featured musical and dance performances by students, grades K through 5. Full story...
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And the Chorus Sings — Students from Compton Unified School District’s (CUSD)
Dominguez High School’s French classes sing in unison with their LA Opera co-stars, Monday,
May 11, as part of the world-premiere of Richard Sparks’ English-language opera, “Tanis in
America.” The performance was held in the high school’s gymnasium, 15301 San Jose St., from
11 a.m. to noon. LA Opera cast members included: Cedric Berry (first row, left), bass; Winter
Watson (to the right of Berry), soprano; Kalil Wilson (to the right of Watson), tenor; Ronnita
Miller (to the right of Wilson); and LeRoy Villanueva (second row, third to the right), baritone,
assistant director. Full story...
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Raising Signs of Support — Over 100 Compton Unified School District (CUSD) staff,
community members and local leaders attended the district’s “The Buck Starts Here”
cost-savings rally, Friday, May 15, in front of the CUSD Education Service Center, 501
S. Santa Fe Ave., to show support for cost-savings measures to save district jobs. Full story...
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Honoring Teen Court Judges and Student Jurors — Compton Unified School District’s
(CUSD) Compton High School Teen Court’s student jurors and judges Kelvin Filer (kneeling)
and Ronald Skyers (second row, right) of the Compton-based Los Angeles Superior Court
celebrate outside the CUSD Board Room, 501 S. Santa Fe Ave., Tuesday, May 12. Together,
they received certificates of appreciation and awards for their services in prosecuting and
sentencing Compton High School’s minor offenders for crimes such as petty theft, trespassing
and vandalism. Full story...
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It’s a Very Significant Ladies’ Night — Barbara Berry (top-left) and her nieces, secondgraders
Renita (center) and Renetta (right) Brasko, bond together during Compton Unified
School District’s Lincoln-Drew Elementary School’s Sixth Annual Significant Female Dinner,
Thursday, April 30. “I want them to grow up to be responsible and respectable women who can
contribute to their community,” said Berry. Full story...
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They Read, They Scored! — McKinley Elementary School teacher Leslie Walker (standing top-right) and third grade students gathered in front of Staples Center, last spring, before entering the arena to cheer on the Los Angeles Lakers. After six weeks of intensive reading, 19 McKinley Elementary School third-graders completed the L.A. Lakers Reading Challenge and won tickets to a home game. The winners, who included three top student readers from other McKinley third grade classes, competed against over 100 classes throughout Los Angeles County. The competition put students’ reading skills to the test as they raced to complete six chapter-books in six weeks. Only the classes with a 100 percent completion rate were eligible to be randomly chosen for the grand prize trip to Staples Center, 1111 S. Figueroa St., Los Angeles. Walker noted. “I never thought my class and I would be so lucky to win. I think this experience made them realize that reading isn’t only fun, but also rewarding.” Full story...
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There’s a Party Going On — Students crowd around Principal Jacquelin Sanderlin, Ed.D.,
Carver Elementary School, Compton Unified School District, and Margie Garrett (wearing
yellow sweater), Reading First coach, Carver Elementary, as they attempt to correctly answer
school pride questions for a chance to win a free basketball from Sam’s Club during the First
Annual Community and Family Outreach Day. The event was held, Saturday, March 14, at
Carver Elementary School’s parking lot, 1425 E. 120th St., Los Angeles. Full story...
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Kooky Carnival — First-grader Federico Izaguirre (left) plays reading game, Kooky Carnival,
with his mother, Mireya Izaguirre (far right), and second grade teacher Alan Ghaemie (center)
during Math and Literacy Night, Wednesday, March 11, at Longfellow Elementary, 1101 S.
Dwight St. Full story...
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Meet the New Personnel Commissioner — Bonita Bradshaw, new personnel commissioner,
Compton Unified School District (CUSD) was sworn in Friday, March 13, during a special
meeting of the CUSD Personnel Commission in the district’s School Police Department’s
briefing room. Bradshaw said she looks forward to serving the district. “I’m going to work and
I pledge my time and devotion,” she stated. Full story...
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Sounds Like a Symphony — Northwestern College, Iowa’s Symphonic Band performed for
all three Compton Unified School District (CUSD) high school bands and community members
Saturday, March 14, at Compton High School, 601 S. Acacia St. The band’s free performance
was part of a promotional tour of California and Nevada. Full story...
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The Secrets of Saturn — Fifth-graders Jaime Ramos (holding a mock-up of the planet Saturn)
and Alejandro Miranda (at left) present their entry to students at Compton Unified School
District’s Jefferson Elementary School’s Annual Science Fair, Tuesday, February 24. The event,
held in the school’s cafeteria, 2508 E. 133rd St., featured dozens of science projects from
students, grades K through 5. “The reason why my partner and I chose to do our project on
Saturn is because it’s our favorite planet, and it has more rings than Jupiter,” said Ramos. Full story...
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All Aboard! — Second grade honor roll students from Compton Unified School District’s
(CUSD) Washington Elementary School, 1421 N. Wilmington Ave., cheer in celebration of their
field trip to California Science Center’s IMAX Theater in Los Angeles, Friday, March 6. The
students were among the 201 high achievers, from kindergarten to fifth grade, who earned a spot
on the principal’s first semester honor roll list. Full story...
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Compton Unified School District Celebrates “Read Across America” Full story...
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Just the Three of Us — Mark Banks (left), accompanied his third and fifth grade sons to
Lincoln-Drew Elementary School’s Significant Male Event for the sixth consecutive time, and
he plans to come back next year. “It’s a good thing to be here and I think the school should do it
more often in order to get parents and their kids together,” he said. “A lot of times parents are
too busy working or they’re too tired, so it’s harder to get them together.” Full story...
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Scoring a Home Run for Reading — Former Dodger Rudy Law (in Dodgers uniform)
visited Compton Unified School District’s (CUSD) McNair Elementary School, 1450 W. El
Segundo Blvd., during CUSD’s “Read Across America” district-wide celebrations, Monday,
March 2. Law celebrated the event with Mary Lou Esqueda (in Dr. Seuss costume) and third-grader
Brenda Gutierrez (front), Dariana Madragon (right) and their classmates. Full story...
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Good Vibrations — As part of a science presentation from the University of California,
Irvine’s Physics Outreach Program, biology major Jeffrey Wu (above), demonstrates how heat
can be the catalyst for natural sounds for fifth-graders at Compton Unified School District’s
Willard Elementary School, 310 E. El Segundo Blvd. “When all the hot air is moving through
the tube, it causes the whole tube to vibrate at its natural frequency, which is the sound that you
hear,” he said. Wu explained how light and sound waves are as much a part of biology as
physics. “Waves are very pertinent to biology. For example, sound waves are representative of
the way we hear things and light waves are important -- they help determine what we see.” Full story...
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Conclusion: Don’t Drink Tap Water — Eighth-graders Monica Solarzano (left) and Liliana
Chavez (right) proudly display their award-winning science project, “The Truth Behind Water.”
Both students shared first place in the eighth grade science project competition at Compton
Unified School District’s (CUSD) Roosevelt Middle School’s Seventh Annual Science Fair,
Friday, February 27. “We found that a majority of bottled water has a lower ph level than tap
water,” Solarzano explained. “Bottled water is purified but tap water isn’t. High levels of
acidity aren’t good for us and we wanted to let people know that.” Full story...
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Music of the Soul — Fleming Robinson, principal, Dickison Elementary School, performs
with his band, Live 5, during the school’s African-American Music Celebration. “We wanted to
take the audience on a journey through the different musical styles African-Americans
contributed to the world of music,” Robinson said. Full story...
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Touchy Subjects, Positive Solutions — Brian Jeffrey (standing) and his student cast perform
their improvisational play “Experiences” at all three Compton Unified School District (CUSD)
high schools, including Compton High School, 601 S. Acacia St., Wednesday, February 18.
Jeffrey is the founder of Rancho Cucamonga-based Los Osos High School’s multicultural club
and performance troupe, Socially Together and Naturally Diverse, United Performers (STAND
UP). “The play openly confronts negative behaviors such as telling racist jokes and uses them to
illustrate the damage they cause, but I want the audience to walk away with the knowledge that
they can change those things,” he said. Full story...
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102 Years of Memories — Ruby Parker (left), president, Parent Teacher Association, Tibby
Elementary School, holds the microphone as 102-year-old Trudie Thompson (right), shares her
experiences growing up in Louisiana during an African-American History Month event held at
Tibby Elementary, 1400 W. Poplar St., Thursday, February 19. “We had to ride a mule to go to
church,” Thompson noted. “And, we didn’t have the good schools you have now. Back home
we didn’t have washers, so we had to use a tin tub to wash the dirt off us.” Full story...
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CUSD Superintendent Burnside Discusses Budget Cuts
& Family Friendly Schools on Channel 26’s “The School Hour” Full story...
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Thinking Outside the Box — Jacqueline Sanderlin, principal, Compton Unified School District’s (CUSD) Carver Elementary, discusses the challenge of pulling her school out of Program Improvement (P.I.) status during a conference at Pepperdine University’s Graduate School of Education and Psychology in West Los Angeles, Wednesday, February 11. “It’s critical that principals realize they’re not a solo act. This is an opportunity for us to create a staff that believes they can be a part of the school’s success,” she said. Full story...
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Black History Illuminated — John Trammel, vice-president, Compton Unified School District’s (CUSD) District Advisory Council, shares little known facts about African-Americans during a Black History Month presentation for Willard Elementary School’s, 310 E. El Segundo Blvd., third grade classes, Friday, February 6. During the program, Trammel also showed the historical link between African-Americans and Latinos. Full story...
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A Fiery Chinese New Year — First, second and third grade students at Compton Unified School District’s (CUSD) Tibby Elementary School, 1400 W. Poplar St., celebrate the Chinese New Year with colorful dragon greetings and fan dances. The festivities were part of the school’s Second Annual China Day, Friday, February 6. Panda Express reprised their sponsorship of the event by catering Chinese food during the event. Full story...
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Sorry, Wrong Answer! — A disappointed Lisa Hook, fifth grade teacher, publicly admits she is not smarter than a fifth-grader during an after-school version of the popular television game show “Are You Smarter than a Fifth-Grader?” at Compton Unified School District’s (CUSD) Dickison Elementary School, 900 N. Aranbe Ave., Thursday, January 29. Hook said she took her loss in stride. “When it comes down to it, this was put together to let our fifth-graders know they are winners.” Full story...
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An Honorary Lunch for Two — Kawan Watts (right) and his daughter, Kalynda (left), celebrate her honor roll student status during an honorary lunch at Compton Unified School District’s (CUSD) Roosevelt Middle School, 1200 N. Alondra Blvd. “It makes me feel good to know she is striving to succeed,” Watts said. His daughter admitted it took time before she started making progress with her schoolwork, and credits her father with supporting her to study hard. “My dad told me he believed in me, so I believed in myself.” Full story...
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Last Spellers Standing — Following a long, hard-fought battle for championship glory, the top three Junior Division winners of Compton Unified School District’s (CUSD) Sixth Annual Spelling Bee were finally able to clutch their trophies. Taking honors in the Junior Division were First Place, Yesenia Alvarado (center), fifth grade, McKinley Elementary; Second Place, Jesus Vergara (right), fourth grade, Anderson Elementary; and Third Place, Omoshalewa Alabi (left), fourth grade, Bursch Elementary. Full story...
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All the President’s Men in Black — In honor of U.S. President Barack Obama’s inauguration, Compton Unified School District’s (CUSD) Rosecrans Elementary School, 1301 N. Acacia St., hosted a parade assembly with students and staff posing as the First Family and secret service agents. Principal Umar Baba (second-row, right) and fifth-grade teacher, Lisa Wright (wearing blue coat), were selected to double as the new commander-in-chief and First Lady, Michelle Obama. While the president’s motorcade, driven by the school’s plant manager, made its way past the cheering crowd of students, “student secret service” provided protection. Full story...
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‘We Shall Overcome’ — Students from Compton Unified School District’s (CUSD) King Elementary School, 2270 E. 122nd St., participate in the school’s Fourth Annual Freedom March, Friday, January 15. The event honored civil rights leader Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.’s birthday. The march was designed to provide students with a hands-on experience of what it was like to march for peace and racial equality during the civil rights movement. Over 526 students held signs and sang the anthem “We Shall Overcome” as they made their way to Mona Park Recreation Center. Full story...
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Classroom Instruction and Campus Activities to Embrace International Event Full story...
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“You Want Fries with That?”— Asks Kanika White, Ed.D., principal at Compton
Unified School District’s (CUSD) Lincoln-Drew Elementary School, as she takes orders
Friday, January 9, at her school’s fundraiser, “McTeacher’s Night,” held at McDonald’s
restaurant, 1160 E. Rosecrans Ave. Full story...
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Going for Gold — Last year’s primary division spelling bee champ, this Jefferson Elementary School fourth grader (right), practices her vocabulary words with the help of her classmate (left), using a unique word game. She reads the words out loud while her friend spells them out. If she is correct, she is one wing closer to piecing together a paper bee. Full story...
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Compton Unified’s 39 Schools to Open Doors to Parents & Community for Historic Presidential Inauguration Full story...
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“I picked my very own new book”— said two Compton Unified School
District students at Jefferson Elementary School. The duo were among 600
students at the school who received early “surprise” holiday presents when representatives from Torrance-based Book Buddies, a non-profit literacy program, showed up at the school’s cafeteria with over 1,300 gift items that included new books and toys. Full story...
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Final Visit — Paul Chatman (right), president of the California School Boards Association, toured the campus of Ralph Bunche Middle School as part of his official visit to the Compton Unified School District. Chatman was accompanied by Bunche Middle School’s Principal Paul Hernandez (center), Associate Superintendent Donald Evans, (second-left) and Associate Superintendent Gunn Marie Hansen, Ph.D., (far-left). Together, they visited the school’s science and history classes as well as an eighth-grade special education class. Full story...
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African-American Parent Symposium — Lincoln-Drew Elementary School’s Carla Geary (far left), school counselor, and Principal Kanika White, Ed.D. (second left), hold a panel discussion with community leaders. Guest speakers were Pastor Michael Fisher (third-left) of Little Zion Missionary Baptist Church, community activist Sweet Alice Harris (center), Jerome Vincent Carter (second-right), founder of character education program, Inspiration 52 and Sgt. Tony Campbell (far right), founder of United Peace Officers Against Crime; a non-profit that provides after school programs for at-risk youth. Together, the panelists discussed the critical need for more parent involvement in the lives and education of African-American children. Full story...
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The U.S. Marines donated holiday gifts to 500 students at Laurel Elementary School during the school’s holiday program, Friday, December 19. Full story...
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Times are tough, but they haven’t stopped 33 students from Compton Unified School District’s (CUSD) Centennial High School from spreading holiday cheer to those in need and proving themselves as community leaders.
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Kanika White, principal, Lincoln-Drew Elementary School and a product of the Compton Unified School District (CUSD), has received her doctorate in Education (Ed.D.) from Pepperdine University in Malibu. Full story...
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Students at Compton Unified School District’s (CUSD) Laurel Street Elementary School are looking forward to their freshman year of college after participating in their school’s first College Day on Wednesday, December 3. Full story...
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Spanish speaking parents at 10 Compton Unified School District (CUSD) elementary schools are learning how to practice speaking English — at school and at home — thanks to a new innovative pilot program. Full story...
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When Yolanda Lopez entered the Compton Unified School District’s (CUSD) board room to attend the October 28th board meeting, she fully expected to receive one of the old headphones and receivers that she’s often complained about. Instead, she was handed a new black headphone and high tech receiver that, together, delivered incomparable sound. Full story...
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Los Angeles rarely sees snow during the holidays but ice cream will be abundant for lucky students at Compton Unified School District’s (CUSD) elementary schools on Friday, December 19. Full story...
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Times are tough, but they haven’t stopped 33 students from Compton Unified School District’s (CUSD) Centennial High School from spreading holiday cheer to those in need and proving themselves as community leaders. Full story...
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Swinging Safer -
CUSD's Dickison Elementary School students swing safely after receiving a
revamped playground area via a six-month, nine campus, $374,000 district
playground replacement project. Upgrading of the school's playground included a
brand new six-seat swing set with rubber turf added for safety as shown above.
ARTICLE:
More than 5,000 students at nine Compton Unified School District (CUSD) campuses
are now enjoying new and revamped playgrounds thanks to a six-month $374,000
district playground replacement project. Full story...
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